Missional Community Leader Handbook

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1 Missional Community Leader Handbook

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3 CONTENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 ELEMENTS OF A DISCIPLESHIP CULTURE 5 THE ECOSYSTEM 6 MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW AND TRAINING 7 Responsibilities of an MC Leader 12 MC Leader/Coach Expectations/Development 13 Short Term Missional Communities 14 FAQS CARE AND COUNSEL 16 How do I give godly counsel? 18 How do I interpret Scripture correctly? 20 How do I care for widowed members? 21 How do I visit someone in the hospital? 22 What is Spiritual Warfare? 23 What is formal Church Discipline? 24 How can I shepherd my group members? 25 How can I help someone struggling with temptation? 26 How can I help someone in crisis? 27 What if someone is struggling with guilt or accusations? 28 What if someone is struggling with finances? 29 What if someone is considering suicide? 30 How do I minister to someone struggling with anxiety? 36 What if someone is struggling with fear of others/codependence? 37 What if someone is inconsistent with attendance? 38 What if someone doesn t seem to care? 39 What if someone says something wrong or heretical? 40 What if someone talks too much? 41 What if someone drains the group? MODEL 42 How do I reach out to my community? 43 How do I encourage accountability? 44 How do I welcome new people into the group? 45 How do I practice Biblical rest? 46 How do I deal with discouragement? 47 How do I interact effectively? 48 How do I decide whether to call, text, or meet? 49 How do I follow up with someone? 50 How do I handle breaks between MC terms? 51 How do I handle children in group? MOBILIZE 52 How do I decide on group size? 53 How do I encourage others to make disciples? 54 How do I share the ministry? 55 How do I set a culture of multiplication? 31 How do I minister to someone struggling with an eating disorder? 33 How do I minister to someone struggling with anxiety? 34 What if someone is struggling with pornography? 35 What if someone is struggling with adultery? MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK

4 Introduction Knowing how to shepherd, direct, and respond to someone takes training, practice, and the work of the Holy Spirit. This resource serves as a reference when you need direction or have questions about leading a Missional Community. You may read it in its entirety or as needed when situations arise. Most of the content in the FAQs comes from The Village Church in Texas. We have made some alterations to better suit our context, but we are indebted to them for the majority of the work in creating this resource. In a desire to keep things succinct, the majority of the FAQs are dealt with through a one-page outline. We have aimed at the heart of the matter, providing action steps and other resources on the topics. Our hope is to be as practical as possible. You are likely to deal with many of the situations described in the FAQs throughout your time as an MC Leader. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 3

5 Elements of a Discipleship Culture define 1 De Who is a disciple? define develop 2 Dv develop diagnose 3 Di How are disciples formed? How are disciples measured? diagnose demonstrate 4 Dm Are you a disciple? demonstrate MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 4

6 THE ECOSYSTEM REPRODUCER Intentionally pours into others what God has poured into them. A disciple of Jesus who makes disciples who make disciples, to see the movement of the Gospel continue from generation to generation. Might look like Prays for others growth. Intentionally invests in and teaches others. Helps/encourages/challenges others to take next steps. Lives life alongside others with intent to disciple. WORSHIPER Sees God as greater than anyone or anything else and lives in joyful, grateful obedience. Pursues communion with and obedience to Jesus in all of life, relentlessly eliminating idols. Might look like Surrenders heart and life to Christ. Private devotional life; prayer, Scripture, meditation, etc. Pursues obedience in all things. Participates in corporate worship. MISSIONARY Lives as though God has sent them to proclaim the gospel in word and deed wherever they are. Burdened for those who don t know Jesus, therefore intentionally uses resources and makes decisions to fulfill God s mission, not their own dreams. Might look like Prays for others to know Jesus. Intentionally reaches out to demonstrate and communicate the gospel. Implements BLESS practices intentionally. Shares what God has done and is doing in them. FAMILY MEMBER Lives as a committed member of an authentic, transparent, truthful community built on the foundation of the gospel and living out its implications. Obeys the one anothers of Scripture, loving others and sharing life with them in a gospel-shaped way. Might look like Committed part of Missional Community. Growing in availability to others. Confession, transparency. Neither avoids nor enjoys confrontation. Bears the burdens of others, fosters their spiritual growth. SERVANT Joyfully and sacrificially serves in response to the way they ve been served by Jesus. Looks not to their own needs but considers how to use all they have for the sake of others and God s glory. Might look like Disadvantages self for the sake of others. Serves on a ministry team. Thinks of others, has empathy. Takes action outside of their comfort zone. Looks for needs around them. Generous with time, energy, and resources. LEARNER Humbly seeks to learn from the Spirit and others through diligently studying Scripture and seeking wisdom. Wants to grow in knowledge and effectiveness in Christ. Might look like Studies Scripture consistently and diligently seeks to apply what they learn. Accepts rebuke, seeks correction. Teachable heart, seeks the wisdom of others. Engages with and applies Scripture. Growing in Gospel fluency and application. Takes advantage of opportunities to learn and grow. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 5

7 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew (ESV) discipleship at resonate Resonate exists to fulfill Jesus Great Commission to go and make disciples. Everything we do is meant to point people to Jesus and lead them into a growing relationship with Him. Discipleship is growing as a follower of Jesus and it is the call of every Christian and every local church. While the Bible provides clear guidance on what it means to follow Jesus, each church has its own process and vocabulary surrounding discipleship. At Resonate, we use the Ecosystem, which is detailed on the previous pages. This paradigm provides both practical, specific next steps related to each of the six marks of a disciple as well as a clear picture that we are constantly growing and never arrive as disciples. Growth is a lifelong, ongoing process. And at the center of it all is the Gospel. WHERE MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES FIT IN Gospel-centered communities are the context for discipleship; the people you experience Christ with. We live out and pursue every element of discipleship through Missional Communities. Made up of men and women from all generations, Missional Communities meet throughout the week for prayer, fellowship, challenge, encouragement, and growth. They are not simply places to build community, but community will be built. They are groups of people in pursuit of Jesus. WHAT a MISSIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOT When we describe Missional Communities as small groups, people interpret this word in different ways. The tendency is to assume, even for those that are bought-in to the vision and DNA of Resonate, that MCs are small groups or Bible studies by a different name. It is helpful to clarify what a MC is not: A Missional Community is not primarily a Small Group. Many churches start Small Groups as a way to "close the back door of the church; to help people who come to Sunday services get connected and stay connected to the church. While MCs help people connect to the church family, this is not the reason we have them. A Missional Community is not primarily a Bible Study. Bible Studies often involve studying and discussing Scripture as a substitute for living on mission and engaging in the ministry God made us for. While MCs will study Scripture, the emphasis will be on the way God equips us through Scripture, and being faithful to obey what we learn. A Missional Community is not primarily a support group. While members of groups will experience love and support, the purpose of the group is to grow people so they are able to take care of their own families, and one another. A Missional Community is not primarily a social activist group. We want each group to be For the City" and live on mission to our city. Causes are good, but if we miss the mission of the Gospel - the call to make disciples - we have missed our true calling. A Missional Community is not primarily a weekly meeting. While a Missional Community will get together once a week, it is not a weekly meeting. An MC is a group of people seeking to live life together in pursuit of Jesus. You don t define your family as a weekly meeting; the church is your family. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 6

8 WHAT a MISSIONAL COMMUNITY IS In Missional Communities we are seeking to live life a different way. To radically reorient our lives around the Gospel, together. A Missional Community Leader brings people together and calls them to this kind of life. Every Missional Community will look a bit different based on the leaders and members, but they share these common traits at Resonate: An MC is a gospel community living on mission together. Have a Leader and Apprentice who are the shepherds of the group, guiding group members to grow in their understanding of the Gospel and taking next steps as followers of Jesus (using the Ecosystem and Weekly Guides as an aid). A group of 4-10 people who meet at least once a week. MCs are commissioned as missionaries to t h e i r c o m m u n i t i e s. L e a d e r s a n d Apprentices will lead group members to live out their individual missions, and the group will serve together at least once each MC Session. the role of an mc leader Because our Missional Communities are the primary context of gospel-centered community and life on mission, MC Leaders have an immensely important role. They are the primary shepherds and disciple-makers of Resonate church. They are the carriers of the DNA and the catalysts for a true movement. If Resonate is to become a missional movement, it will be because God has used MC Leaders to make disciples who make disciples. Because this role is so important, we have a high bar for MC Leaders. An MC Leader is to: Care for and counsel group members. Model the life of a devoted follower of Christ. Mobilize group members toward next steps in Christ. CARE AND COUNSEL Caring and counseling are everyday activities within the Christian life. Loving others as you love yourself and calling each other to faithfulness are ways we follow Christ s commands. Caring is the practice of Biblical hospitality and oversight. It is both thoughtfulness in relationships and speaking truth in love when sin takes hold. Counseling is the practice of listening and speaking godly truth into a situation, bearing with one another. Giving Godly Counsel M u c h o f g i v i n g g o d l y c o u n s e l i s encompassed in our daily response to the cares and worries of group members. As we respond to these cares, we must bear in mind that the counsel we give must be: Rooted in God. Scripture is authoritative and the source of wisdom. Exalting to Jesus Christ. Counsel that does not exalt Jesus Christ becomes behavior modification. Dependent upon the Holy Spirit for change. This does not undermine the need for human effort, though. Loving. Speak the hard truths in love. Be winsome and be sober in calling to life. When listening to others, group leaders must be sure to talk through emotional and behavioral (circumstantial) struggles, addressing what is under them. They cannot let the deeper issue go untouched. Accountability and Conflict Resolution Accountability is your responsibility as a Christian brother or sister, leader and shepherd. Issues you address can be a sin directly against you or an observed sinful habit or action (Matt. 18:15, Gal 6:1). MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 7

9 H o w t o c a r e f o r s o m e o n e t h r o u g h accountability: Go to the individual privately and address the situation (in person). Make the issue clear and explain the biblical concerns toward the attitudes or actions in question. If their heart is unrepentant, pray for and plead with the individual. If unrepentance continues, take 2-3 others with you who can listen and counsel in the conversation (Matt. 18:16). If the counsel of these others, in addition to your own, is disregarded and their heart remains unrepentant, then update your Coach or a pastor. The next step is the beginning of formal church discipline. Church Discipline Formal church discipline takes place when everyday accountability fails, and there is no a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t, c o n f e s s i o n, o r repentance. In the formal church discipline process, individuals are cared for by ministers, pastors and elders. For more on caring and counseling, see the Care and Counsel section of the FAQs. model Modeling the life of a devoted follower of Christ is intentionally showing and inviting others to see Jesus as beautiful and worthy. It is to work and live in a way that depends upon the power of the Holy Spirit in you, and to do so in hopes that others might see and join you. This happens in the daily routines of life, when we show faithfulness and true joy in suffering, success and the in-between. Living our Mission Healthy disciples are growing, because of the gospel, in all six markers of a disciple: as worshipers, family members, learners, servants, missionaries, and reproducers. They are pursuing a life worthy of imitation because they are following Christ. MC Leaders are these maturing disciples who model Christ and what it means to follow Him in every aspect of their lives, on display for their groups. Because the gospel is true, they can openly share failures without shame and triumphs without pride. Disciples Making Disciples MC Leaders are required to spend intentional time and energy with their Apprentice, and possibly one or two others from their group. They are to spend intentional time discipling them, modeling what it looks like to pursue Jesus and live as His disciple. As much as possible the Leader must involve his or her apprentice in daily life; they must have much more than a weekly-meeting type of relationship if they are to truly disciple. This relationship is key, and is to be modeled after Jesus relationship with His disciples. Displaying Community In modeling what it looks like to be a healthy disciple, MC Leaders help others see what it looks like to live out gospel-centered community since MC Leaders are the main area in which we pursue and live out our identity as family members. The Christian life is far more about interdependence than individualism, which means leaders must fight for groups to be more than just Bible studies or hangouts. 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and Acts 2 describe the body of Christ as many parts with different gifts that come together to form a whole. They describe the body of Christ as serving and sacrificing for the good of each other. All parts are subject to Christ, and all belong to one another. This means group members must seek to be this biblical body of Christ, tending to one another, building up one another, and growing together in their service and identity as people of God. In this way, we want our groups to do life together, but we must also realize that groups will never be perfect and the expectation and desire for belonging will differ from group to group. For more on modeling, see the Model section of the FAQs. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 8

10 mobilize To mobilize others to take their next steps as disciples of Christ is to celebrate what we want to cultivate in our communities. It is to engage in the overflow of the Christian life, serving others and being part of healthy growth in maturity and the reproduction of believers, communities, and churches. Serving In and Outside the Church MCs are encouraged to serve together. This could mean as part of a ministry team at Resonate (Setup, Teardown, Kids Ministry, Student Ministry, Tech, First Seven, Connections, etc.), as part of a For the City team or event (Street Ministry Team, Christmas Project, Turn It Up, etc.), or as part of a group member s mission to their community, workplace, family, or friends (cleaning up a yard together, for example). There are countless ways for MCs to engage their community the love of Christ. MC Leaders do not need to find and plan every service opportunity, but they should help find opportunities and delegate group members to lead out in this area as appropriate. If group members are taking steps as disciples, opportunities to serve are going to come up and the group members can rally around an individual and take part in their mission. This is the church! marks of discipleship, but MC Leaders are responsible to fight that. They are to faithfully and boldly lead their groups in pursuit of every element of discipleship, including reproduction. MC Leaders (and all disciples, really) are called to pursue gospel-centered multiplication, reproducing themselves to make more disciples. MC Leaders do this by identifying, apprenticing, raising up and sending out new leaders. Sharing Stories Stories testify to what God is doing in and through our people; they are integral to MC life. They allow us to celebrate what we want to cultivate, encouraging and pushing group members to take their next steps. Stories matter because they are one of the main ways we preach the gospel to ourselves and one another, which in turn motivates us to share the gospel with others, in word and deed. For more on mobilizing, see the Mobilize section of the FAQs. Though there is value in groups serving together, many group members will serve in different areas in and outside the church that allow them to function in and practice their specific gifts. This is good and right. MC Leaders should look for ways to encourage group members as they pursue gospelcentered service. Reproducing Missional Communities We see disciples formed through the pursuit of the gospel and embracing our identity as worshipers, family members, learners, servants, missionaries, and reproducers. Missional Communities will have a natural bent toward focusing on one or two of these MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 9

11 responsibilities of an mc leader Cultivates a personal relationship with Jesus. Shepherds an MC of 4-10 people. Leads their group on mission. Identifies and develops future leaders. Encourages non-members to pursue Covenant Membership and encourages Covenant Members to faithfulness. Reproduces self through an Apprentice. Leads group to meet effectively, in alignment with Resonate plan. Attends and participates in MC Leader Trainings; committed to growth. Cultivates a personal relationship with Jesus. An MC Leader must pursue Jesus above all else. Mission must never substitute for Jesus. It is easy to let your relationship with Jesus fall by the wayside as you get into the busyness of leading, but this is a critical error. We are not leading people to have discussions or gain knowledge; we are leading them to follow Christ. If we ourselves are not following Christ, we are leading them astray. An MC Leader takes responsibility for their own relationship with Jesus and pursues next steps, accountability, and growth. Shepherds an MC of 4-10 people people is the recommended size of a Missional Community. As the group gets larger, it is more difficult to develop the kinds of relationships and have the kinds of conversations that drive discipleship. We want to celebrate smaller groups and go deeper with fewer, as God gives us the grace to. We celebrate discipleship and next steps, not just group size. The cultivation of deep, authentic relationships is better facilitated in a smaller group. Groups will sometimes exceed these numbers due to scheduling and pressures, and as God graces us with more people. This should increase our desire to grow and reproduce groups, so that more and more people are able to be a part of a gospelcentered community where they experience love and challenge and grow as disciples like never before. Leaders and Apprentices should specifically recruit people to join their groups rather than rely on an MC Expo to drive people to sign up. The greatest participation will happen with people who have been personally invited, and with whom there is already some kind of relationship or connection. Leads their group on mission. Mission is a critical component of a Missional Community. If an MC is simply a discussion group, or focused inward, it is not an MC. MC Leaders are responsible to engage their group on mission. It could be participation in a ministry inside the church or outside. It could be a part of a group member s mission, serving in their community, or something similar. Jesus did not just gather with His disciples to discuss Scripture; He led them on God s mission to seek and save the lost. This is an indispensable part of what it means to be a disciple. If we are not leading our people on mission, we are not discipling them in the way of Jesus. Identifies and develops future leaders. Current leaders are to actively entrust their Apprentices (and others they see with leadership potential) with responsibility and give them appropriate opportunities to lead. Groups multiply from within. This allows new leaders to learn at the side of their current leader and be sent out to reproduce what they have been a part of. Encourages non-members to pursue Covenant Membership and encourages Covenant Members to faithfulness. Attendees and non-members who are faithfully participating in the body should become members of the local body. Current Covenant Members are encouraged to fulfill their covenant and pursue faithfulness to God. Leaders can encourage both by MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 10

12 advocating for Membership Classes and helping people see the value of membership. Leaders should, for their own sake and vision, attend a Membership class once a year or more as a Table Host, to help welcome others into the family. Connects regularly with Coach. MC Leaders keep in regular contact with their Coach, utilizing their Coach as the first line of communication. Coaches are committed to helping MC leaders develop in competence and Christ-likeness. MC Leaders are committed to working with their Coach to encourage and grow them. Reproduces self through an Apprentice. An MC Leader without an Apprentice should be a rare or non-existent thing. Leaders should identify and recruit Apprentices, and pour into them intentionally to reproduce themselves. This is the call of discipleship. Leaders should have a clear plan and be passing off meaningful responsibility to Apprentices as they re ready. Ideally, an Apprentice will be doing most of the work of leading a group, and will own the group the way the Leader does, by mid-way through their second session together. That will allow the Leader to give their Apprentice feedback and guidance while seeing first-hand how that Apprentice leads and cares for a group. Leads group to meet effectively, in alignment with Resonate s plan. Missional Communities are to meet once a week, four or five times a month. If an MC is not following a set curriculum (such as MC Connection Groups or MC New Christian Groups), the MC Leader is to use the Weekly Guide to plan for the group meetings. By using the Sunday sermon as a focal point, we build on the energy and teaching from God s Word to facilitate next steps, discipleship, and greater alignment. Leaders should also record attendance in Church Community Builder so we can better track group participation and make improvements. Attends MC Leader Trainings, Leader Huddles, and is committed to growth. MC Leaders attend trainings and Huddles throughout the year meant to provide them with specific training and content to encourage them as leaders, disciplers, and disciples. Leaders make it a priority to attend these trainings, as they are committed to growth and understand the great importance of their role. Pursuing growth through other means is also greatly encouraged, whether through a Night with the Prof, a conference, an online resource, a book, or some other program. missional community characteristics R e g u l a r m e e t i n g f o r c o n n e c t i o n, discussion, prayer, etc. Should be weekly. Leader invests in Apprentice through relationship and content. Possible addition of discipleship triads if a second potential leader surfaces. 10 Week average sessions (September- Christmas, January-Easter, March-June). Leaders recruit and encourage members to commit for one year, but regular offramps/ onramps exist. Group sizes: 10 max for singles, 14 max for couples (ideal size is 4-8 persons). Regular Service - MC Leader leads the group on mission. At least one per session. Discipleship focused, next-step oriented. A culture of invitation and challenge. Ecosystem is lived out. Sermon-based or approved curriculum. Leaders and Apprentices work to adjust content to best serve their group within provided parameters. Weekly Guides provide foundation for most groups. No limit to how long a group stays together, but reproduction should be the norm. Every week, Leaders/Apprentices can provide feedback through the online form: MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 11

13 mc leader/coach expectations and development If the MC Leaders are the primary disciplemakers of Resonate, it is absolutely essential that we have a high bar, clear expectations, and a solid development plan. If we truly expect MC Leaders to take a group of people and shepherd them toward greater devotion to Jesus and the elimination of idols, shaping them in the Gospel all the way, we must have a system to develop leaders like that. We are all on a journey with Christ, and these expectations are our goal. They are what we will strive and toward with grace-driven effort. MC Leader Qualifications/Aspirations: A Covenant Member of Resonate in good standing, or in the process of becoming a Covenant Member. A desire to be challenged and held accountable as a leader and shepherd. Strive for the qualifications of Biblical Eldership (whether male or female) as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. Live on mission; identify and pursue a specific mission field in their personal life. Lives out BLESS and can explain it to others. Leadership competence: relational awareness, emotional maturity, communication skills, conflict resolution. Can articulate the Gospel (Gospel on the Ground and Gospel in the Air concepts) and apply it to themselves and others. Constantly growing in their understanding of the Gospel. Biblical literacy and the ability to identify sound/unsound doctrine. Humble enough to admit when they re out of their depth and seek help. Protect the sheep. Knows the Ecosystem and can clearly explain it, including how the Gospel leads to each of the six marks of discipleship. Can identify next steps for themselves and others. Committed to reproduction: to identify, develop, and encourage leaders. Committed to growth. Will do whatever it takes to grow as a disciple, leader, and shepherd. Eligible to become a Coach after they train and send out two MC Leaders. How are MC Leaders developed? Missional Communities. MC Leader Trainings. Leadership Huddles. Night with the Prof events (5-6 per year) for Seminary-level teaching on topics of interest. Sunday Sermons and Weekly Guides. Ministry Grid online tool. MC Coach Role: An MC Coach is an MC Leader who takes initiative to encourage and lead a group of MC Leaders (a Leadership Huddle). Coaches serve a vital role in connecting leaders to one another and creating an environment where they can learn from and encourage one another. This typically happens through: Regularly contacting the leaders in their Huddle to encourage them and get them to MC Leader Trainings. Facilitating discussions at MC Trainings, where the Huddle sits together. Being a point of contact and lifeline for leaders in their Huddle who need some extra support; facilitating communication among all the Leaders in a Huddle so they can mutually support and encourage each other. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 12

14 short-term missional communities In order to best facilitate discipleship and connection, we have three types of Missional Communities. Standard MCs fall in line with the description of groups above. There are two additional kinds of groups meant to serve specific populations: Missional Community Connection Groups (MCCGs) For people new to Resonate, MCCGs provide a lower-commitment experience very similar to that of a normal MC. These groups will be intentionally short-term (4 weeks) and publicized as groups for those who have never been part of a Resonate Missional Community before and want to check out what one is like. Leaders will use a provided curriculum along with the Weekly Guides to prepare for their groups, which will be sermon-based discussion groups. Participants will be introduced to the Ecosystem and its elements, and learn about Resonate s overall discipleship process. At the end of the four weeks, participants will be invited to continue as the group transitions into a standard MC for the remainder of the MC session. Missional Community Foundations Groups (MCFGs) For those new to Christianity or still exploring it, the MCFG will provide an introduction to the foundations of the faith. Through this group, members will have an MC-like experience with a set commitment time (6 weeks) where they will learn what it is to be a Christian. They will work on developing essential habits for the Christian life, a basic understanding of the Ecosystem (and therefore what it means to be a disciple), and the ability to share their story. Leaders will use a provided curriculum that involves Bible Study and discussion, and not much engagement with the weekend s sermon. At the end of the six weeks, group members will be invited to continue as the group transitions into a standard MC for the remainder of the MC session. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 13

15 mc leader/apprentice yearly rhythm The MC Year goes from September-June. There are three MC Sessions, to create more onramps for people to join the discipleship process. Our hope is that MC Leaders will approach the Year not with the intention of leading three separate MCs, but leading one MC through the entire year. This level of time and commitment will better foster the growth and culture of discipleship and gospel community that MCs are meant to have. Within each year, there is a general rhythm for MC Leaders: Before MC Year (June-August) With the help of a Coach or the Spiritual Formation Pastor, the MC Leader will decide on the details of their group for the upcoming year (and if they will in fact lead a group). Details to be decided include: Type of Group (Men s, Women s, Mixed; Standard MC, Foundations, Connections). Apprentice (must complete application process). Day/Time/Location of meetings. This information, once decided upon by the Leader, Apprentice, and Coach/Pastor, will be communicated to the Spiritual Formation Pastor using an online form at least three weeks before the Fall MC Expo. Before Fall Session (August/Early Sep.) During August and early September (before the Fall MC Session begins), MC Leaders: Recruit an Apprentice (if they haven t already). Have the Apprentice complete a Yearly Plan form and meet together to discuss personal and leadership goals for the upcoming year. Complete a Yearly Plan form and be prepared to share it with their Huddle at the MC Kickoff. Recruit group members. The MC Leader and Apprentice should be prayerfully asking people to join their MC. The Expo should not be seen as the primary recruiting tool for an MC. MC Leaders who personally invite people into their groups generally experience greater success and connection within their groups. Fall, Winter, and Spring Sessions During the MC Year (September-June), MC Leaders will carry out their plans, lead their groups, and attend trainings (2 per session), where they will contact with their Coach and Huddle. At the end of each session (December, March, and June), Leaders and Apprentices must: Communicate their MC details for the upcoming session to the Spiritual Formation Pastor for the MC Expo Brochure. (End of Fall and Winter sessions only.) Complete a MC Session Evaluation form, where they will evaluate themselves, their group, and the other leaders they re connected to. Find out if existing group members will continue in their group. If not, the MC Leader/Apprentice should help them get connected to another MC. End of MC Year (June/July) At the end of an MC Year, Leaders and Apprentices will: Complete an End of Year Evaluation. This will be a self-assessment and a way for every Leader/Apprentice to provide feedback for their Leader, Apprentice, and/ or Coach. It will also allow the Leader to provide feedback to the Spiritual Formation Pastor and MC Leadership. Review their Yearly Plans to see how they grew. Leaders and Apprentices will discuss what is appropriate for next year (multiply a group of their own, keep apprenticing, step out, etc.) Receive resources to help them shepherd their group throughout the summer. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 14

16 structuring mc group meeting time MC Foundation and Connection Groups have set curriculum, but standard MCs are more flexible. The primary role of an MC Leader is to shepherd and disciple his or her group members. This is going to look different based on group members, season of life, events of the week (or even the day), and more. We strive to create a healthy environment for discipleship where we balance the organic and the systematic. Perhaps one of the most challenging jobs of MC Leaders and Apprentices is structuring their weekly group meetings effectively. While all of our MCs are focused on discussing and applying the Sunday Sermons, there is some leeway in how that happens within each group. Groups are also not limited to only discussing the Sermon - but they should at least discuss it in a meaningful way that allows group members to reflect on its application to their hearts and lives. With all that in mind, it will be up to each MC Leader to decide exactly how to structure their group meeting time. Remember what an MC is - it is not simply a discussion group! It is not just a time to meet and go through the questions in the Weekly Guide. It is a time for you to shepherd and lead your group close to Jesus. While it s easy to fall into the rut of just going through the questions in the Weekly Guide, don t do it! Prayerfully engage with an intentional plan each week to encounter Jesus and Gospel community. What does a typical meeting look like? Typically, MCs are scheduled to meet for 90 minutes per week. Some groups schedule a longer time, but this is about the investment we ask people to make when we discuss Missional Communities. Of course it is not possible to live on mission together in 90 minutes a week, but this time is essential. A typical group meeting may be structured something like this: 5-10 Minutes: Group members arrive, catch up, socialize. Open with a Prayer Lead through Weekly Guide discussion/ activities Share Prayer Requests Pray together Share announcements Dismiss/Socialize as people leave This should be seen as more descriptive than prescriptive. If this is all your MC does, you are going to have a hard time seeing true discipleship and life change happen. A group with this structure every week will end up looking much like a traditional Bible Study or Support Group, which an MC is not. That doesn t mean your group should never follow the above outline, but you as the leader should thoughtfully, prayerfully, and intentionally structure the time. Plan ahead Each MC Leader should consider - how can I help the people in my group take their next steps toward Jesus? Where do they need to be encouraged? Challenged? Confronted? What elements of the sermon do they most need to hear and digest? How can we move from discussion to application? As you prayerfully answer these questions and consider how you can best shepherd your group, you should put together a plan for each week s meeting. To help you, here are some elements for you to consider making a part of your group meeting time. Some should happen every week, and others should be mixed in from time to time. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 15

17 Every Week: Every week, your group should at least engage in the following things: Discussion/activity related to the week s sermon, using the Weekly Guide as a resource. The meat of your discussion time should be about learning and growing from the sermon. While you may also be doing other sorts of reading or listening in your group, the bulk of your discussion time should center around the sermon. You must give adequate time for the truths of Scripture from the preaching of God s Word to sink in and for your group members to see themselves in light of it. You should also regularly (if not weekly) do some of the Next Step activities together! Prayer. Every week your group should pray together. Some weeks it may be one person praying, other weeks everyone will participate. But you must absolutely pray together. Don't make the mistake of letting prayer time get crowded out. Consider ending your discussion minutes before your scheduled end time to provide enough time for everyone to share their prayer requests without feeling rushed. Some groups even share prayer requests at the start to make sure it happens. If you do this, make sure to give people a chance to add to their requests after the group s discussion time, because more things may have come up for them. Share critical announcements. In the Weekly Guide and/or MC Leader , there will be some information/ announcements for you to share with your group. Please be sure to pass this information along. You are a critical link in the chain of communication. Other Elements: While these are not things that you necessarily need to do weekly (though you could), they are important. Engaging in discussion and activity around these things during group time is recommended regularly, depending on the focus/needs of your group. Check In on Next Steps. Hopefully you are encouraging and challenging your group members to take next steps. These may be the ones indicated in the Weekly Guide, or ones you come up with yourselves. Either way, it is good to spend time in the group checking in. If someone said they were going to try or do something, ask them how it s going. Create an environment of loving encouragement and challenge to gospel people through their successes and failures. BLESS Mission Check-In. Ask your group members how they are doing in living on mission personally. Remind them of each of the BLESS habits, and share successes, failures, and challenges. Pray for one another and invite one another on mission. This is key to develop your group s personal missions and collective mission. Ecosystem Check-In/Discussion. Pick one element of the Ecosystem. Remind your group of what it means (or ask one of them to tell you about it). Then ask everyone to share how they are doing in that area. Pray for and encourage one another. You can also use the handouts available at mcleaderstuff to help you direct the discussion and do a more in-depth selfassessment for everyone in your group. This is especially great to do at the beginning and end of MC Sessions, as you can set goals/focuses for the session. Facebook Page. Create a Private Facebook group for your MC. Throughout the week, interact through Facebook. You could all agree to read part of Scripture and share what you get out of it or what questions you have each day, or something else. This can be a great way to build community. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 16

18 Bible Reading/Discussion. It may be helpful for your group to commit to read Scripture together during the week. You can spend a bit of time in your meeting each week discussing the Scripture reading. Two great questions to ask about what you read are (1) What does this tell me about God? and (2) What does this tell me about what it means to follow Jesus? It s important for the Bible discussion not to be divorced from personal action and change. It s not just about information. Share a Story. Have someone in the group share their story of their relationship/ journey with Jesus. Give them a time limit (like 5 minutes) and at least a week to prepare. This will build community and foster growth. Confession and Prayer Time. It is important to occasionally set aside time to invite people to confess. This will sometimes happen in the regular course of discussion and activity in your group, but it would also be helpful to spend some time inviting confession and applying the Gospel to one another. 1 John 1:5-7 is a great passage to lay the foundation for this time. Teach or review something If you think it would be beneficial for your group, spend a few minutes teaching out a basic concept. This could include BLESS, the Ecosystem, the Four G s, something you found helpful at the most recent MC Leader training, etc. This is a good way to reinforce these concepts that we hope everybody will internalize, because they will help them grow as disciples. Don t turn your group time into a lecture, but it is good to exercise a bit of teaching sometimes. You could also ask someone else in your group to do it and give them a chance to exercise some ministry and their gifts. event, or somewhere else - your group should be serving together. To get buy-in and use it as an actual discipleship opportunity it is important for you to use some group time to talk about and pray for your serving opportunities. Musical Worship. If someone in your group has the gifting (this is important), you can incorporate some musical worship into your group time! Discuss a book or article. You may want to read through a book with the people in your group. This can be a great way to supplement your sermon-based discussion. It is okay to spend some time talking about what you learned from what you read, and how you can apply it. Your group should not become a book study or discussion group, but many leaders and groups find it helpful to read through a book together and spend some of their time discussing it. If you do this you should talk to your Coach for some guidance on how to make it fruitful. Something else. Discipleship is an adventure! There are so many things you could do to switch things up in your group and help your group grow. If you have another idea, talk with your Coach to see how they can help you leverage it into a discipleship opportunity for your group. Plan a serving opportunity. Whether it originates in the personal mission of someone in your group, a For the City MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 17

19 FAQs MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 18

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21 Care and Counsel how do i give godly counsel? When listening to someone in order to respond with gospel-centered and Biblebased counsel, there is a progression of logic and action that is important to follow. These steps will help you care and counsel well when you are faced with a hard conversation or the call to bear patiently with someone in need. Love God is love, so we are to love others. To disciple with a Christ-centered love, consider these points: There must be a desire to help. Our desire reveals whether we have a kingdom mindset or worldly one. We can help others for our own benefit, even if what we are doing is good. It reveals our self-centeredness. We can help others for their benefit, and it starves our selfcenteredness. One is an incorrect gospel application, the other is a biblical command to love God with all you are and love others as you love yourself. Offer your full attention. How will we know what to say if we have not heard their story? Be fully present and listen. Hearing will allow you to know what biblical counsel to give, which direction to take moving forward and how to intercede for others. You must show compassion. In Hebrews, the author portrays Jesus as One who sympathizes with our weaknesses and is able to help because He suffered and was tempted in every way. No human can ever fully understand another, but we do strive to emulate the example of Christ in our laboring to understand the struggles and suffering of others. Listen It s important to hear how a person defines their situations and struggles.. It is tempting to jump in and either define the problem yourself or correct the definition of the problem without fully hearing the story. Does this situation sound familiar? I have this issue with my neck, it hurts when I Oh, I know exactly what you re talking about! I have a pain in my neck too! Here s what you need to do A tendency to be aware of is that we often quit listening to discern the moment we see a point to relate to. The mind works to remove dissonance, and in trying to understand someone else s struggle, we try to compare our own experience and then liken all our thoughts and experiences with that issue to theirs. Over time, carefully and graciously help individuals look at their hurts and struggles in light of Scripture. This approach will help bring fertile ground and a willing spirit to how they are thinking, feeling, and behaving in response to their struggle or suffering. As this approach progresses, the person being discipled will begin to view and discuss their troubles through the lenses of God s Word. With this, the individual s thinking, feeling and behaving are, in turn, filtered through truth rather than circumstances, sufferings or problems. This progression frees the disciples to see his problem in relation to the affections of his heart, which is where Jesus says the things that defile us come from. In and among suffering, affections will be exposed either as affections for self or affections for Christ. Misplaced affections will constantly point to deeper heart issues. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 20

22 Identify Biblical Solutions Through hearing and discerning, we look to Scripture that speaks adequately to the heart and circumstance. If discernment toward the heart is skipped and you jump straight into biblical solutions, there becomes a danger of behavior being addressed without true heart change that comes through the Holy Spirit, as God s Word impacts the heart. This may seem like a small thing, but biblical solutions apart from understanding where affections of the heart have gone wrong lead to legalism. The Pharisees and the Sadducees displaced these affections as they consistently approached problems through the law with hearts that were far from the Lord. Exhort Biblical Action Once biblical solutions are identified and studied, the discipler exhorts biblical pursuit. This includes but is not limited to exhorting the individual to: Seek power and comfort from the Holy Spirit. The individual embraces a proper view of the Holy Spirit as part of the Godhead. This means there is a persistent desire to grow in the knowledge of the Spirit, walk in the power of the Spirit, and seek the Spirit in all things. Engage fully in the body of Christ. A great failure of many believers has been looking outside the body of Christ for care and help. This exposes a great failure of the Church to not be a place and people who pursue authentic, biblical Christianity. As the Church strives to be an instrument of God to His people, the individual should be encouraged to engage in the body of Christ. This does not mean they never seek counseling or help outside the body, but that the body is the first place they go. Wait patiently upon the Lord and His timing. God is in control, so we don t have to be. A failure to trust God is a failure to trust in His Sovereignty. Forsake allegiance to the flesh. The individual grows in an understanding of how the flesh has traditionally played out but stays keenly aware of the heart issues beneath. Trust in the power of God. The individual grows in trust toward God s sovereignty while acknowledging and embracing the deep need to walk in His ways and actively trust in His goodness. Dwell upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. T h e i n d i v i d u a l d e v e l o p s a g r e a t understanding of what has been secured in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Justification, sanctification, and glorification are all realized in Christ and empowered through the Holy Spirit. Meditate upon, memorize, and apply the Word of God. The individual displays an increased hunger for God and desire to know His Word. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 21

23 Care and Counsel how do i interpret scripture correctly? It can be challenging to interpret Scripture, and it is absolutely essential for Missional Community Leaders to be diligent and handle the Word of God with care. Group members will look to MC Leaders as authorities, and they are in a position of spiritual leadership. In order for members to grow as followers of Christ, they must learn how to properly interpret Scripture. There are some common mistakes many of us make: here are some of them so you can avoid them: 1. Interpret one passage of Scripture in a way that contradicts another Scripture. If your interpretation of a passage contradicts another part of Scripture, you have probably misinterpreted one or both of the texts. Example: Paul says we re saved by grace but James says we re saved by works, so they contradict each other. 2. Interpret a passage in a way that would not have made sense to the original audience. To understand what a passage means, we must first determine what it meant to the original audience. If your interpretation would only make sense to a modern-day audience you are probably mistaken. Example: The locusts in Revelation are actually Apache attack helicopters. 3. Interpret a passage without considering its genre. The Bible is full of many genres of literature: history, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, letters, and more. Just as you read the sports section of the newspaper different than a storybook, you don t read Matthew the same way you read Revelation. Example: Proverbs 22:6 promises my child will be saved. (Proverbs are principles, not promises.) 4. Interpret a passage in a new way, not held by anyone in church history. While it s possible Christians in the past may have missed something of major importance, it s more likely if you have a new interpretation of a passage (or one that wasn t held until the 1800 s), you re in error. Example: If you don t speak in tongues, you aren t saved. 5. Interpret a passage without paying attention to its context. Every word in the Bible exists in the context of a sentence, a paragraph, a section, a chapter, a book, etc. There is also cultural and historical context to consider. The theological topic of the book of the Bible provides more context. In order to understand what a passage is saying, you must consider its context. Example: The Old Testament forbids eating pork, so Christians shouldn t eat pork. 6. Never ask other Christians about your interpretation. Scripture is meant to be interpreted in the context of community; if you interpret a passage in opposition to all other commonly held interpretations, you may have wandered into error. It takes humility and a respect for God s Word to acknowledge that you could be wrong. Example: God showed me a new interpretation of this passage; it doesn t matter what you say it means. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 22